Best Mike Doughty Podcasts (2024)

1
Zac Carper of FIDLAR on Bipolar, Drugs, Meds, and Intense Journaling 43:03

2h ago43:03

43:03

Zac Carper, lead singer and guitarist for the garage punk bad FIDLAR, is very familiar with one kind of drugs: the street substances of meth, heroin, and crack that he engaged in heavily when he was younger. Now, at 37, he’s grappling with a different sort: medications prescribed for his newly diagnosed bipolar disorder. Zac has found that, while h…

1
Any Questions #656: "F-'all'" 4:00

12h ago4:00

4:00

1
For Mental Health, Covid Fed Our S Up and We’re Just Starting To Figure Out How 40:41

1h ago40:41

40:41

Yes, we don’t have to wear masks in the grocery store and yes, vaccines have been very effective in reducing the spread and severity of covid-19. But the mental health ramifications of the whole pandemic experience are only now beginning to be understood. Dr. Royce Lee from the University of Chicago joins us to talk about how it made serious mental…

1
Any Questions #655: "Back to school" 4:17

3h ago4:17

4:17

1
117 S8 E3 Leading When It’s Hard - A Cell Phone Ban. 39:35

16d ago39:35

39:35

In this episode, Jenn and I interview Dave Blanchard, a seasoned superintendent from a school district in Upstate New York. Three years ago Dave’s district implemented a distraction-free environment, which included no cell phones during the school day. We talk about this leadership challenge in the context of Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book, The Anxious…

1
Election Stress Disorder and What To Do About it with Theresa Nguyen 42:58

4d ago42:58

42:58

The U.S. election is weeks away and a lot of people are kind of a mess right now. It can feel like the whole world is on the line and you have no real power over what happens. This can result in election stress disorder, the overwhelm of panic and anxiety that can interfere with your life functions and peace of mind. We’re joined by Theresa Nguyen,…

1
Any Questions #654: "Crosswords Again" 5:00

6d ago5:00

5:00

1
Moon Unit Zappa on Family Trauma, Neglect, and Building a Self 51:56

11d ago51:56

51:56

For much of the world, Moon Unit Zappa is famous for two things: the unusual name given her by her father, iconic musician Frank Zappa, and the 1982 song “Valley Girl” where she appeared with Frank when she was 14. The full, complex portrait of life in this unconventional family isn’t all that funny as told by Moon today. She tells of a lifetime of…

1
117 S8 E2 Learn what the BEST principals do differently than the AVERAGE ones. 48:27

20d ago48:27

48:27

We were fortunate to get to talk to the renowned Todd Whitaker in today's podcast. He is one of the most influential thought leaders in educational leadership and has written 65 books on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness! Today Whitaker talks about the latest edition of his classic book, What Great Principals Do Diff…

1
The Muddy Ethical Ground of AI Mental Healthcare with Dr. Jodi Halpern 36:51

22d ago36:51

36:51

It’s a supply and demand issue. With increasing numbers of people seeking help, it’s harder to get in to see a human counselor. At the same time, artificial intelligence technology is booming, leading to growing availability of computer programs that say similar things to what humans say while not being human at all. Dr. Jodi Halpern, Chancellor’s …

1
Any Questions #652: "Little/League" 4:21

29d ago4:21

4:21

1
Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Ela Melo on Music, the Stars, Psychosis, and Reality 46:38

25d ago46:38

46:38

During the covid pandemic, Ela Melo of the acclaimed band Rainbow Kitten Surprise was staying with her parents and went out one night to look at the stars. And the stars, she felt quite certain, were communicating with her. Trying to tell her things. This was to be the beginning of a journey that involved a bipolar disorder diagnosis, psychotic bre…

1
Any Questions #651 "A Really Big Show" 5:08

1M ago5:08

5:08

1
Susan Cain on Reaching a Quiet Life 40:24

1M ago40:24

40:24

Introverts around the world celebrated, quietly, when Susan Cain’s book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, became a #1 best-seller back in 2012. Her next book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, also went to #1. Now Cain is back with an audio series, A Quiet Life in Seven Steps, about how to reach a …

1
Any Questions #650: "Veeps" 4:35

1M ago4:35

4:35

1
116 S8 E1 Executive Functioning Isn’t Just for Executives 51:39

1M ago51:39

51:39

Teachers spend a lot of time making sure students know what they’re supposed to do, and many students struggle to understand expectations and translate them into action. The results are less time for teaching and less capacity for learning. Schools need to teach executive functions to all students in the context of the learning they are already doi…

1
Gut Health, Resilience, and What the Heck Is TMS Anyway? 41:12

2M ago41:12

41:12

The gut microbiome, that little ecosystems of bacteria and microorganisms in your body, and your mental health are more closely related than we may have thought. Dr. Aparna Church led a study that points out the connection between a person’s stress resilience and the composition of their gut microbiome. She joins us and offers advice on how to eat …

1
Any Questions #649: "Future Olympic Host Cities" 4:59

1M ago4:59

4:59

1
Mike Doughty Was Recently Hospitalized for Depression Twice. It Helped. 45:32

2M ago45:32

45:32

It was two years into a vicious cycle of depression and Mike Doughty was falling apart. He was taking more Ambien than he had been prescribed, importing huge boxes of the stuff from India, waking up to find packs of cigarettes, candy wrappers, and pizza boxes with no memory of leaving his Memphis home to make such purchases. He was convinced someth…

1
Any Questions #648: "We Can Build It" 3:42

2M ago3:42

3:42

1
Reframing Your Memories, Even the Terrible Ones, To Help Your Mental Health 41:46

2M ago41:46

41:46

Memories are like the radiant light and heat of the sun. They’re always coming at us, inescapable. But like that radiant light and heat, memories can be harnessed and converted into a fuel that can provide power. That’s the thinking behind cognitive reminiscence therapy (CRT), the practice of revisiting, reexamining, and reframing your memories to …

1
Any Questions #647: "What's in the middle No. 6" 4:34

2M ago4:34

4:34

1
Life Inside a Psych Unit and Therapy for Rock Bands 46:21

2M ago46:21

46:21

One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit is an HBO documentary about life inside an in-patient facility in Queens that specializes in helping people of college age who are in acute crisis. The filmmakers, Alexandra Shiva and Lindsay Megrue, introduce a variety of patients who have been through experiences such as suicide attempts or drug overdoses and t…

1
115 S7 E10 It all starts with Belonging. 27:29

2M ago27:29

27:29

Students today are suffering from an epidemic of disconnection. School leaders I work with see it in students’ disengagement from learning and in their mental health. While there are many factors at play here, there’s no doubt that belonging is something that kids (and grown-ups too) desperately need. In this episode, Jenn and I interview Dominique…

1
Any Questions #646: "Overlaps" 4:28

2M ago4:28

4:28

1
Gracie Gold, Olympic Figure Skater and Human with Mental Illness 52:38

3M ago52:38

52:38

In terms of achievement, Gracie Gold had it all: Olympic medal, world championships, beloved celebrity at the pinnacle of an incredibly competitive and difficult field. She even became friends with Taylor Swift. Unfortunately, in terms of mental health problems, she also had it all: eating disorders, body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, suicidal i…

1
Any Questions #645: After the "Fire" 4:35

2M ago4:35

4:35

1
The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy Opens Up About Lifelong Anxiety, Impostor Syndrome 48:33

3M ago48:33

48:33

The Decemberists have been making memorable, popular, and critically acclaimed music for over twenty years and for that entire time, lead singer and songwriter Colin Meloy has battled the feeling that he’s secretly a fraud. And the more success he’s had with his career, the more he’s been at the head of a large organization upon which people earn t…

1
Any Questions #644: "The last shall be the first" 4:18

3M ago4:18

4:18

1
114 S7 E9 If these are the next generation of teachers, we're all good! 38:43

3M ago38:43

38:43

In this episode, Jenn had the privilege of speaking to three rising juniors in college, all of whom want to become teachers. While we've spent so much time fearing the loss of teachers from our field, it was so inspiring to remember that some energetic young people are going to bring so much to our schools, too. Exciting! The passion of these three…

1
A Regular Guy, Managing Trauma, Who Happens to Be Paul Scheer 56:14

3M ago56:14

56:14

Trauma and comedy wouldn’t seem to have a lot in common but they do have one thing: Paul Scheer. You may know Paul from TV shows like the comedy The League or from his podcasts like How Did This Get Made. In this deeply personal, vulnerable, and - yes - funny interview and in his new memoir, Joyful Recollections of Trauma, Paul Scheer recounts tale…

1
Comedian Liz Miele on Depression, Trauma, Violence, and Live On-Stage Panic Attacks 53:40

3M ago53:40

53:40

Liz Miele has headlined on comedy stages around the world and produced numerous stand-up specials. It’s an impressive career that began at Manhattan open mics when she was 16 years old. We have a wide-ranging conversation with Liz about her recent depressive episode, the panic attacks that have been going on for years including in the middle of her…

1
113 S7 E8 Reading Is Everyone’s Business, Part 2 26:26

3M ago26:26

26:26

According to Beverly Cleary (yes, that Beverly Cleary), “Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.” Jenn and I couldn't agree more, and that’s why in this episode we talk about the book The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri S. Lesesne (Heinemann, 2022). Here’s more of what we kno…

1
Comedian Sierra Katow on Big Time Achievement and Persistent Depression 43:54

3M ago43:54

43:54

Just because someone’s depressed, doesn’t mean they can’t achieve great things. Just because someone can achieve great things, doesn’t mean they aren’t depressed. You may already know these facts, especially if you’ve been listening to our show doe a while, but they bear repeating because they can be easy to forget. Sierra Katow has a new standup s…

1
Any Questions #643: "Into The Pot" 4:32

3M ago4:32

4:32

1
Any Questions #642: "Clocks" 4:53

4M ago4:53

4:53

1
Chris Gethard is Less Ego-Driven, More Peaceful, No Longer Losing Teeth 1:04:05

4M ago1:04:05

1:04:05

When you’ve had an HBO comedy special, starred in an off-Broadway show, made a million TV appearances, and headlined comedy clubs all over the country, the next move is not generally to apply to grad school to become a therapist or social worker. But that’s what Chris Gethard found himself doing after his incredibly stressful career hit some hard s…

1
112 S7E7 Reading Is Everyone’s Business 35:03

4M ago35:03

35:03

“If you’re not reading by the end of third grade, there’s a 70% chance you won’t become a proficient reader.” That’s what author Karen Gazith told us as we talked with her about her most recent book, The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines. Here’s more of what we know: Neuro…

1
The New York Times’ Ernesto Londoño Dives Deep Into the Psychedelic Treatment Experience 50:05

4M ago50:05

50:05

Ernesto Londoño, a veteran journalist with the New York Times, was suicidally depressed, living in Brazil, and curious. He had heard from a psychiatrist at a party about the remarkable and barely studied benefits of ayahuasca, a psychedelic herbal brew that has been popular among tribes in South America for a long time. Being a reporter, he wanted …

1
Any Questions #641: "Military before and after" 3:51

4M ago3:51

3:51

1
Our Guests Are Musician Judah Akers and, In a Sense, Elizabeth Kübler-Ross 50:58

4M ago50:58

50:58

Judah & the Lion’s new album, The Process, is divided into five different stages, one for each stage of grief as described by Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross. So there are songs about denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Judah Akers was moved to create the album after a series of incidents in his life, including suicides …

1
Any Questions #640: "Pop culture five/one/eight" 4:24

4M ago4:24

4:24

1
Any Questions #639: "Three-word movie reviews" 5:01

5M ago5:01

5:01

1
Shannon & the Clams’ Shannon Shaw on Building Something Beautiful in the Wake of Tragedy 50:03

5M ago50:03

50:03

Shannon Shaw was on her way to check out an alternate venue for her upcoming wedding and then to her bachelorette party one August day in 2022 when she got word that Joe Haener, Shannon’s fiancé, had been killed. His pickup had collided with another pickup and he died right outside the fields of his family farm. Shannon joins us to talk about the p…

1
111 Mini-sode 5: Trust us, your teams need work. 18:56

5M ago18:56

18:56

In this fifth special episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about resources to help school leaders with building better teams. To support this work, Jenn has gathered her summaries of three must-read books: Learning by Doing by Richard DuFour et al. - This book shows how to effectively implement PLCs so they will raise student achiev…

1
Shanti Das Turns From Helping Musicians to Helping Minds 50:46

5M ago50:46

50:46

As a big player in the recording industry, Shanti Das provided a lot of help in bringing artists like Usher, OutKast, and TLC to national audiences. Ultimately, she needed a lot of help herself and left her high profile career behind to work on her own mental health. Shanti went through a dark time in the early to mid-2010s, with the loss of her si…

1
Any Questions #638: "Derby winners in other words" 4:29

5M ago4:29

4:29

1
Any Questions #637: "Before and after, initially speaking" 4:02

5M ago4:02

4:02

1
Gary Gulman on Childhood, Depresh, and Leaving Food Comedy Behind 56:12

5M ago56:12

56:12

Gary Gulman is a very successful comedian. He’s released several specials, plays to packed rooms, and is incredibly highly regarded among his peers. But for his first book, Misfits: Growing Up Awkward in the ‘80s, Gary didn’t want to just rehash his act into book form. Gary, an avid reader, has read books like that and felt ripped off by them. Inst…

1
Advice on Mental Health in the Workplace with Megan Delp 45:00

5M ago45:00

45:00

The hierarchies, politics, and constant stress of the average job situation can be a lot to manage for anyone. If you add a mental health issue to contend with on top of all that, it can get downright fraught. Megan Delp is a therapist and the Director of Workplace Mental Health for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She’s here to fiel…

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